Noticeboard

HELP US TO HELP YOU!

We often experience a high demand for our services, particularly in the mornings, and especially on Mondays. We would very much appreciate your assistance in trying to manage this and help to free the telphone lines for other important matters. If you need to order a prescription please try to avoid ringing in the mornings, escpecially on a Monday.

We have a dedicated prescription line (01432 265269) which is available 9am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm Monday to Friday. You may also wish to consider one of the following alternative ways to order your repeat prescriptions:

1. Order on-line using the link above to online services

2. Complete the right hand side of your prescription and deposit it in the wall mounted prescription box at the surgery.

Please remember to allow 2 working days before collecting your prescription.

Please be aware that there is not always a doctor on the premises during opening hours.

In cases of emergency the duty doctor is immediately contactable. If you require URGENT medical attention outside of these hours please ring 111 for the Emergency Out of Hours Service.

Please note telephone calls may be monitored or recorded.

THERE IS LIMITED TELEPHONE ACCESS BETWEEN 1PM & 2PM

In addition to the practice's normal opening hours, as stated above, you can also book an appointment in the evenings and weekends. This may be with a different GP, Nurse or location than you are used to. These appointments are pre-bookable by contacting the surgery during our opening times - please ask for an extended access appointment.

Appointments

Consultations are by appointment only. There is always more demand for appointments than can be provided. Try to deal with minor illnesses at home, particularly in the winter time when the surgery can be full of patients with coughs and colds.

The appointment system is constantly under review but we offer:

Routine appointments

Ten minute appointments for problems that can wait and do not need to be dealt with that day. These appointments can be booked up to two weeks in advance. Please limit to a maximum of TWO problems and only ONE patient per appointment.

Appointments are generally available during the following times:

Morning 8.10am - 11.30am Afternoon 2pm - 3pm Evening 4.30pm - 6pm

On-line booking - pre-bookable routine appointments are now available to book on-line. These can also be booked up to 2 weeks in advance(subject to availability). You will need to visit the surgery to register for this service, bringing with you some personal identification, such as passport, driving licence or utility bill. Once registered you will be given a unique username and password. To access the on-line appointment facility click on this link www.patient.co.uk, click on the EMIS Access icon and follow the online instructions. Please contact the surgery to make an appointment with the Practice Nurse or Healthcare Assistant - these appointments are not currently available online.

In addition to the practice's normal opening hours as stated above, you can also book an appointment in the evenings and weekends. These are available between 6.30pm and 8.30pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 8pm on weekends and bank holidays. This may be with a different GP, nurse or location than you are used to. These appointments are pre-bookable by contacting the surgery during our opening times - please ask our receptionists for an extended access appointment.

Same day appointments

These are for new problems which need to be dealt with that day or for potentially serious problems. Many of these problems can be dealt with without the need to see the doctor. Reception staff will take your details and the duty doctor or advanced practitioner will call you back. If you and the clinician agree that you need to be seen, the clinician will arrange an appointment for you. This triage system has been in operation since May 2003 and we have received very positive feedback from patients. It makes it possible for the clinician to spend more time dealing with patients whose acute problems need a little more attention Please note our phone numbers are withheld when phoning out.

Please be aware that if you are more than 10 mins late for your appointment you may have to wait until the end of that session before the doctor can see you. If you are more than 20 mins late for your appointment you will be asked to rebook the appointment.

Home Visits

Home visits are for patients who are housebound or who are too unwell to attend surgery. Home visits should be medically justifiable and not requested for social convenience. In general, we would expect you to arrange transport to the surgery. Should a home visit be necessary please try to ring before 11am when your request will be passed on to a doctor. The doctor may speak to you to plan the best way of dealing with your problem.

Telephone Consultations

If you wish to speak to a doctor please telephone the surgery and you will be advised of the availability of the doctor, who will endeavour to return your call. Unfortunately, it may not be possible for the doctor to return your call the same day.